Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
POLICE in Manicaland have opened a formal investigation, and begun a manhunt for suspects who allegedly forced their way into the boardroom at Rekayi Tangwena Government Complex and disrupted a ZANU PF Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting on Monday.
The incident, captured on video clips that have gone viral on social media, saw a group of unidentified individuals storming the meeting to halt proceedings, has prompted both law‑enforcement and the ruling party to act.
An investigative team from ZANU PF national headquarters in Harare has been deployed to the province to examine the breach.
The team from ZANU PF HQ, headed by party security personnel, was expected in Mutare yesterday (Thursday) to commence internal investigations.
The boardroom incident follows a series of internal tensions within the PEC, which saw the meeting being aborted after rival groups clashed during the discussion on the state of affairs in the party.
The meeting descended into chaos when rival groups shouted, banged desks and exchanged personal insults, forcing provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza to abort the session and exit the room.
However, the group opposed to his leadership refused to vacate the room, and instead nominated provincial secretary for administration, Cde Sam Matema, to take over and continue chairing the proceedings.
As the meeting resumed under Cde Matema, a group of unidentified individuals forced their way into the boardroom, disrupted the session and ordered everyone to leave, insisting that the meeting had already been terminated as initially announced by Cde Mukodza.
The intruders climbed onto tables, banged furniture and shouted: “The meeting we had gathered here for has ended. The meeting has been called off, and all of you should leave. There is no meeting that is going to continue. Let us all leave before trouble starts. People should just disperse and go where they came from.”
Plain‑clothes police officers witnessed the commotion.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka refused to entertain questions on the matter, and referred media inquiries to his superior, the national police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
However, repeated efforts to obtain a comment from Commissioner Nyathi were unsuccessful, as his mobile number continually went unanswered.
The Manica Post can reveal that soon after the sudden intrusion and halting of meeting proceedings, some party officials rushed to Mutare Central Police to lodge a complaint, prompting the deployment of uniformed police officers, armed with button sticks, to the venue to restore order.
No arrests were immediately made because, by the time they arrived, the intruders had already dispersed.
However, a source privy to the on‑goings revealed yesterday that the net was closing in on the suspects.
“We have launched a crackdown to identify and apprehend those responsible for storming the boardroom and interfering with a lawful political gathering. Anyone who breaks the law will be brought to book, regardless of their political affiliation,” said the source, adding that some of the suspects’ vehicles were impounded on Wednesday night as police set up roadblocks around Mutare.
The ZANU PF National Commissariat Department has taken control of the situation surrounding the aborted PEC meeting after the submission of written reports from the two antagonistic camps.
National Political Commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha confirmed that the matter is now being handled by the department, but did not provide a timeline for announcing a way forward.
He also did not elaborate on the nature of the disagreements or the expected outcome of the investigations.
“When we are ready, we will make the announcement, not now, and through the media. We cannot divulge internal party processes at this juncture. If you want, you can talk to the provincial leadership in Manicaland regarding the matter. A decision will be made and communicated through the party channels,” said Cde Machacha.
The Manica Post understands that one of the groups has written to the National Commissariat seeking permission to hold the aborted PEC meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Harare, citing security concerns in Mutare, while the other feels members responsible for disrupting the meeting should be disciplined.
The party has since made it clear that it will not tolerate indiscipline and will investigate disturbances that rocked the meeting.
ZANU PF Secretary for Security, Cde Lovemore Matuke, said the party will investigate the disorder, while the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, criticised and blamed party detractors for the disruptions.
The aborted meeting, which was discussing an agenda item on state of the party report presented by provincial political commissar, Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa – with members clashing over the manner the discussion should focus on.
The report touched on restructuring of cells and villages and national cell day, the upcoming national events, including National Youth Day and Independence Day, calling for full mobilisation to demonstrate Manicaland’s loyalty and organisational strength.
Chaos reportedly erupted when Buhera West legislator, Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi, was ordered by Cde Mukodza to confine his contribution to the presented report, sparking outrage among other members who demanded he be allowed to speak his mind without parochial restraint.
